Sunday, October 13, 2019 Victoria, BC, Canada Souvenir Race Guide CONTENTS GM/Race Director and President's Greeting 4 Title Sponsor Greeting 6 Mayor of Victoria Greeting 8 Mayor of Oak Bay Greeting 10 Schedule of Events 12 Speaker Series 16 Marathon Field set for Gun 18 Course Descriptions 20 Thrifty Foods Kids Run 25 Victoria Celebrates the big 40 26 Marathon Elevation Map 28 Marathon Map 30 Half Marathon Map 32 Half Marathon Elevation Map 34 8K Turkey Trot Road Race Map 36 40 Years of the Marathon 38 Race Day Information 40 Start/Finish Line Map 41 Victoria Marathon Champions 47 Best Spectator Viewing Spots 50 Prize Money 52 Great Charities to Run For 53 2019 Organizing Committee 54 Thank you to our Sponsors 55 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide Produced by Corsa Communications Publisher/Editor: Louise Hodgson-Jones [email protected] Design: Simon Desrochers www.simondesrochers.com Photography: Matt Cecill, Simon Desrochers, Brynn Featherstone & Jessica Going Print Consultant: Randy Wachtin Pre-press and Printing: Westkey Graphics Cover photos: Lucy Njeri, women’s course record holder (2011); Lamech Mokono men’s course record holder (2013) by Simon Desrochers Orca design by Tom Spetter How to follow us: www.runvictoriamarathon.com /Victoria.Marathon /VictoriaMarathn /runvictoriamarathon /VictoriaMarathon 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide 3 GM/RACE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT'S GREETING Welcome to the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. We look forward to hosting you on Thanksgiving weekend in our beautiful city. I want to congratulate all of you for the commitment you have made to train and prepare yourself for October 13th. Whether you are doing the 8k, half marathon or the marathon, it takes time, money and sacrifices to get to that start line and on behalf of the organizing committee, thank you for choosing to run / walk in the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. I have had the pleasure to be working on this event for over 19 years in my role as General Manager / Race Director. I treasure the memories from each and every event and I look forward to meeting participants and families from all over the world year after year. I also get to travel to other events and in May at the BMO Vancouver Marathon I met Tom Howard, the winner of the first Victoria Marathon in 1980 (see photo - left). Thank you to the Organizing Committee, many whom have been helping for over a decade and one person that has been involved since day one, Bob Reid. The dedication and pride that each and every volunteer has for this event is amazing and greatly appreciated. Enjoy your race on Sunday as it is your race and we will look forward to seeing you at the start line, cheer you on, on the course and present you with your finisher’s medal at the end. Run fast, run hard and take time to enjoy the gorgeous scenery, if not during the race then over the race weekend. Congratulations in advance, Cathy Noel GM/Race Director Celebrating the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon this year is a testament to all of those involved over the past 40 years, both as a volunteer or participant. This marathon has survived and thrived where other races have fallen by the wayside, while weathering a number of different fitness trends. The strength of this event also lies in its scenic course that shows off so much of Victoria's and Oak Bay’s beauty. We have a few route tweaks this year and will finish our course redesign next year, making it even more inspiring – so make sure you come back next year for even more beautiful views! This race is also known for the amazing indigenous art that graces our official race garments. As an organization we are proud to be partnering with Tom Spetter who has designed our logos since 2008. Our race takes place on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples, specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations and we thank them for their gift. Charities continue to be strong supporters of the event and this year we hope to pass the $2 million mark in terms of funds raised through the CHEK Charity Pledge Program. A lot of this fundraising is from individuals pledging for a charity that is close to their hearts or a runner that they know personally. That is the strength of our charity program. On behalf of the board and race committee welcome to Victoria. I hope you have a great race and achieve the personal goals you have set. Come back next year to help us celebrate the 41st annual marathon on October 11, 2020. Jonathan Foweraker President 4 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide TITLE SPONSOR GREETING You are about to run 8K, a half marathon or full marathon. You have invested countless hours into training. No matter what happens during your race today, you have already achieved so much. To be a runner takes dedication, working through injuries and sacrificing time with your family and friends. Be proud of everything you’ve done to get yourself ready for today. Take a moment to thank yourself, your loved ones, and your body. You are capable of anything you put your mind to. Organizing a marathon also takes countless hours. It is through the tireless dedication of volunteers and organizers that this event runs like a well-oiled machine. I encourage you to take a moment to personally thank at least one of the 1,600+ volunteers whose efforts make the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Vancouver Island’s premier running event. I would like to thank the incredibly devoted leadership team, including Jonathan Foweraker, President of the Victoria Marathon Society, and Cathy Noel, General Manager at GoodLife Fitness Try GoodLife Fitness today! Victoria Marathon. It is because of your commitment, knowledge and passion that this event exceeds expectations year after year. Show your Race Bib and enjoy a Not only does this race provide the athlete a world class experience, it also supports KidSport Greater FREE 3 Visit Pass Victoria, GoodLife Kids Foundation, and The Pacific Autism Family Centre through the charity program. All of these organizations are near and dear to my heart. Their missions align with my passion for encouraging fitness and health at any age and enabling those facing challenges to live their good life. I do have to admit; this year is especially sentimental for me. GoodLife Fitness is celebrating 40 years. Victoria Bay Centre We started with one club in London, Ontario in 1979 and have grown to hundreds of clubs across Co-Ed Canada. I find it fitting that the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon is also celebrating its 40th event. Starting small with 700 runners, the event now has over 8,000 participants and has truly become 1150 Douglas St., Unit 470 a “must-do” on every runner’s list. (250) 381-9444 Whether you’re visiting beautiful Victoria for the first time, or running the same streets you train on, I hope you take the time to enjoy everything that makes Victoria unique. I personally love to go paddle boarding off the coast with the sea lions, dolphins and once even a killer whale. It’s a beautiful way to immerse oneself in the natural delights of island life. Congratulations to all of the runners participating in the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon! Breathe in deeply, put one foot in front of the other, and make it a great day. You’ve earned it. David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans Founder and CEO, GoodLife Fitness Photo: Matt Cecill 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide 6 Photos by: Brynn Feather MAYOR OF VICTORIA GREETING On behalf of the City of Victoria, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon provides an exciting, elite-level race for athletes while also giving back to our community through the Charity Pledge Program, which allows athletes to walk and run while raising money for local charities. It is astonishing that in its 40-year history, the Marathon has raised nearly two million dollars to help those in need. At the City of Victoria, we are passionate about providing opportunities for recreation and wellness. Healthy pursuits contribute to our community’s well-being and make for stronger individuals and families. Whether your race is the full, the half, the 8K or the Kids Run, be sure to dig deep and strive for a personal best – and be sure to have some fun along the way. Congratulations to the organizers, volunteers and participants for making this exciting event possible. I wish you all the best for a great race! Sincerely, Lisa Helps Victoria Mayor Photo: Jessica Going 8 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide MAYOR OF OAK BAY GREETING Monday, May 18, 2020 register today for these 2020 events! On behalf of the Council of the District of Oak Bay I would like to extend congratulations to all who are participating in the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. Every year our residents come out to cheer the runners, supporting those persevering to reach their personal goal as well as celebrating the amazing athletes competing for the podium. You are an inspiration to all. Best wishes for a successful event. Kind Regards, Kevin Murdoch Oak Bay Mayor Be a Goddess all year long with our Virtual Run Series Saturday, June 6, 2020 visit choiceevents.ca for details Photo: Simon Desrochers 10 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Race Guide Sunday,2019 GoodLife SeptFitness Victoria 20, Marathon 2020 Race Guide 11 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Congrats Victoria Marathon Finishers! REGISTER TODAY! All events take place at the Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas Street, unless stated otherwise.